Alan Henry

Every now and again you'll stumble on a recipe that requires powdered sugar, often on top of a baked cake or pastry as a tasty finishing topper. You'll want to sift that sugar for a nice even layer without clumps, but if you don't have a dedicated flour or sugar sifter, TheKitchn suggests reaching for a tea strainer instead to get the same effect.

Of course, this tip assumes you're more likely to have a mesh tea strainer (they note the IDEALISK strainer from IKEA is great for both jobs) than a sifter, or even a large mesh strainer you may already use for veggies and pasta, but considering how much many of you enjoy real brewed tea, it wouldn't surprise us. Plus, if you want to powder the tops of muffins or small baked goods, a tea strainer is the perfect size for the job and lets you dust a small space with easy clean up.

Worth a shot or tea strainer abuse? Have a better way to do the same task? Share your thoughts in the comments below.